By James Orji
Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, says the attack on the Kuje Prison attack would have been averted if the authoties àcted on the intelligence report he shared with them.
The Islamic State for West Africa Province, ISWAP has claimed responsibility for the attack.
President Muhammadu Buhari had during his visit to the prison on Wednesday lashed out at the nation’s intelligence body for failure to avert the attack. The president has ordered a probe.
Gumi has advocated for dialogue between the terrorists and the government. He has also negotiated the release of hostages by terrorists on many occasions.
Daring terrorists had attacked the prison, releasing over 800 inmates many of who are still at large.
The minister of Defense Bashir Magashi, said over 60 Boko Haram terrorists kept in the facility are among prisoners who escaped.
Speaking, Gumi said the authority failed to act on the intelligence report he shared with the Chief of Defense Staff, Gen Lucky Irabor that terrorists were planning an attack the facility.
He claimed that the same terrorists who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train, and abducted many passengers are behind the attack on Kuje Prison.
According to him, the terrorists had as part of his negotiations with them demanded that 10 of their leaders in the prison be released. He claimed to have communicated their demand to the government which failed to a t on time.
He explained that the terrorists attacked because they probably ran out of patience.
In a statement issued on Thursday, by one of his aides, Gumi.said he shared intelligence with security agencies and a committee that was constituted by Gen. Irabor.
“On the tendency and threat to attack targets and other facilities of interest like the Kuje Correctional Centre attacks I have shared that intelligence with the security agencies and the committee that was constituted by CDS Gen. Lucky Irabor,” Gumi said.
He further explained that he was able to negotiate down from 51 to 10 with the terrorists the number of their leaders to be released from the prison.
He said, “I can confirm without a doubt that the Kuje Correctional Centre attack was executed and coordinated by the same group that attacked the Abuja-Kaduna bound train because they gave indications of imminent attacks to that effect which I shared.
“For the records, they requested for the release of 51 of their members. But through the power of dialogue and engagement, I was able to singlehandedly scale that number to only 10 and communicated with audio backing the development to the relevant authorities.
“There was an unnecessary delay on giving them even precise feedback by the government and now they have not only succeeded in carrying out another successful attack that indicts the nature of our intelligence and capacity to respond promptly but has also succeeded in releasing dozens of their members which would have been averted if the action has been taken to give them only 10 and secure the release of the train victims.
“In all this risky, painful and frustrating engagement which government is yet to acknowledge and appreciate, I have more than 100 documented audios that I shared with the relevant authorities. For the purpose of this important press release and to authenticate my claims, I will also share four of the latest audios.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS has denied that some high profile prisoners have escaped.
The service said former Governors Joshua Dariye, Jolly Nyame and disgraced supercop Abba Kyari, who is standing trial for corruption and drug trafficking are still in the facility.
